Six Manchester United players can make point to Erik ten Hag in Europa League

Manchester United will switch their attentions to the start of their Europa League campaign when they welcome Spanish outfit Real Sociedad to Old Trafford on Thursday evening.

United, who posted a fourth successive league victory on Sunday, beating table-toppers Arsenal 3-1, will compete in the Europa League this term after finishing sixth in the Premier League table last season. United have not entered the Europa League at the group stage since 2019.

Yet the competition presents a golden opportunity for United to try and end their trophy drought and secure a route back into Europe's premier club competition for next season. Pitted up against Sociedad, Sheriff and Cypriot outfit Omonia Nicosia in Group E, they are overwhelming favourites to top the group and progress to the knockout stages.

READ MORE: United confirm their Europa League squad selection

It means that manager Erik ten Hag, has the opportunity to rotate his pack and give valuable game-time to some players. With that in mind, MEN Sport has taken a close look at six players who will be targeting starting berths against Sociedad.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka

Living in the shadow of Diogo Dalot as far as United's fortunes in the Premier League are concerned right now, Wan-Bissaka has featured just once so far this term, stepping off the bench as a late substitute against Liverpool. Dalot has established himself as Ten Hag's first choice right-back and has gone from strength-to-strength so far this term.

It means that Wan-Bissaka's best hopes of storing some minutes under his belt come in the form of the cup competitions. But with United's Carabao Cup campaign not starting until November, the former Crystal Palace man's only hope, it seems, is by getting opportunities in